Can the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq Surpass the Escalade in Popularity?

A few months ago, Cadillac debuted an all-electric SUV that will go by the name “Lyriq.” For auto purists, they might look at adding electric vehicles to an auto brands lineup as diluting the image they’ve built or “selling out,” while others understand the shift is inevitable. Either way, for now, the combustion engine dominates the road and the trajectory of gas cars on our roads won’t change soon.

You don’t need to be a fan of GM to know how wildly popular the Cadillac Escalade has been. In 1999, the Escalade was born from rebadging the already existing GMC Yukon Denali, only to change the emblems on the front doors, grille, steering wheels, hubcaps, and embroidery. GM knew the SUV be popular, but according to outlet Automobile it was subsequently discontinued after 2000, which may have caused doubts internally, but it would soon change the course of the automotive industry.

The Escalade changed the culture of the United States and has become as much of a staple to the country as Coca-Cola, apple pie, and cheeseburgers. The newest models are what you’d expect from an American vehicle – monstrous – and a writer from The Verge described driving the 2021 Escalade as the most stressful experience of his life because of its size.

Either way, it’s hard to deny what the Escalade has meant to the auto industry, American culture, and those who drive it, which means the new Cadillac Lyriq has some big shoes to fill, but can it surpass the Escalade in popularity? It’s hard to tell at this point, but let’s analyze what we know about it so far.

2023 Cadillac Lyriq Pricing and Information

Fox News released information from General Motors about the production version of the Cadillac Lyriq. Not much changed from their concept, which was featured in GM’s Super Bowl advertisement to promote their push into the electric era.

The notable changes between the concept and the production vehicle were the addition of more conventional side mirrors, dropping one seat from five to total of four, a different center console that includes a second front cupholder, and wheels that were shrunk from 24 inches to an optional 20 or 22 inches.

The illuminated black grille on the Lyriq won’t be used for cooling, but rather, it’s a panel that’s home to the necessary automatic safety systems and hands-off Super Cruise highway driving system. We have to admit, the front end looks absolutely wicked, but is it enough to establish dominance like the Escalade?

Cadillac came out and said the rear-wheel-drive Lyriq will have a 340-horsepower motor and can achieve 300 miles between charges. One area it does compare to the Escalade right away is its weight – the Lyriq is chunky and weighs a staggering 5,610 pounds. For perspective, the Escalade weighs between 5,635 pounds to 5,823 pounds, according to Cadillac.

The Lyriq will also offer a 190-kW charging capability which fills the battery with 76 miles of electricity in just ten minutes at a DC fast charging station. Although you might think to yourself and say, “I can fuel up in five minutes and go 400 miles,” which is technically true, you have to admit that electric capabilities have come a long way.

The Cadillac Lyriq is set to be built at GM’s factory in Spring Hill, Tennessee, and prices will start at $59,990 in early 2022. The price is reasonable when compared to other SUVs in this category like the Tesla Model X ($91,190) and the Audi e-tron ($66,995).

Escalade Vs. Lyriq: What’s Better?

The term “better” is subjective – you may like apples while we like oranges. At the end of the day, a luxury SUV produced by Cadillac is something where you’ll have trouble finding something wrong. Since it’s built by the prestigious auto brand, we know it’s going to be luxurious. However, the technology for electric cars simply can’t match what’s been achieved with combustion engines. To be fair, combustion engines have more than a 100-year head start.

At POWERNATION, we live and breathe engines, so our choice should be obvious, but we’re not opposed to change. As far as the Lyriq’s ability to surpass the Escalade, only time will tell.

There are few vehicles in the history of the world that have had as much of an influence on the culture of a nation like the Escalade. For now, we’d rather sit on the sidelines and appreciate what technology has allowed us to witness. You might buy an Escalade and your neighbor might get the Lyriq, but as auto enthusiasts, we should appreciate all makes and models for what they are.